Jordan: Australia's Jerusalem recognition breaches int'l law

Jordan condemns Australia’s decision to recognize western Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Elad Benari, 16/12/18 06:38

King Abdullah II of Jordan

Reuters

Jordan on Saturday condemned Australia’s decision to recognize western Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement quoted by The Jordan Times that Jerusalem is among the final status issues, the fate of which shall be decided through direct negotiations in line with international legitimacy resolutions.

The move is a breach of international law and international legitimacy resolutions, the ministry added.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Saturday that his country officially recognizes western Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, though he stressed that the Australian embassy would not move to West Jerusalem until a peace agreement was reached between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Morrison did say, however, that his government would establish an office in Jerusalem that would deal with security and trade.

The move was blasted by the PA, with a spokesman for the PA cabinet saying that the Australian government's decision to recognize western Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was a "wrong step" and showed an incorrect understanding of the political reality and decisions of the international institutions on Jerusalem since 1947.

Australia’s move was actually welcomed by Bahrain, whose Foreign Minister, Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, said that "Australia’s position does not hamper the legitimate demands of the Palestinians and first and foremost East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.”

The senior diplomat added, "It also does not contradict the Arab Peace Initiative.”

Jordan is one of only two Arab countries, the other being Egypt, to have signed a peace treaty with Israel. However, the country’s parliament, which is made up mostly of Islamists, remains anti-Israel and its members have more than once called to annul the peace treaty.